Automatic guard for centrifugal extractors



Mmh 2 19 s. 1,575,325

H. EVANS AUTOMATIC GUARD FOR CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS.

Filed Jan. 21. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 2 1926.

H. EVANS AUTOMATIC GUARD FOR cau'mn'uen, EXTRACTORS Filed Jan. 21, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Li Z, 29 k 50 37 v L. as 36 h 4 -26 4/ j' u- )TICW-54 V O O I I O O 27 I I Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrics;

HUMPHREY EVANS, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO TOLHURST MACHINE v WORKS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Application filed January 21, 1921. Serial No. 438,891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUMPI-IREY Evans, a citizen of the United States, residing in Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of lVisconsin, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Guards for Centrifugal Extractors, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to centrifugal extractors, and more particularly to an automatically opera-ting basket guard for such machines,

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in 1 part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instruinentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and de scribed. Y 7

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to ex plain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings I Fig. 1 is an elevation ofpart of a centrifugal machine, with parts broken away, showing the guard or rest in the raised position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, and with parts broken away, showing the guard in full lines in closed position, and in dotted lines as it is started on its closing movement;

Fig. 3 is anenlarged section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan of the guard, showing the basket shaft in section.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in flange 2 extending inwardly approximately The invention consists in the novel parts, 7

'ing 8 in-the top the accompanying drawings, in Figs. 1 and horizontally, with a central opening 3 over. the basket.

The form-of machine to which the invention ishere applied in an exemplary way is of the overhead or suspended basket. and shaft type. The basket, like the casing. may be of usual form having the cylindrical side-walla and the inwardly projecting, annular top flange 5 with the central opening 6. The basket is suspended at the central part of its bottom from the shaft 7, which shaft is journaled in anover-head suspension bearing in the frame at 8( Two arched or curved side arms 9 and 10 are connected to, and extend downwardly from, the part 8 of the frame, "and are boltedto the top 2 of the casing 1. Another arched frame .member 11 extends backwardly am is fixed to and supported upon a bracket 12, which is likewise bolted to the top of the casing.

Any suitable driving means may be provided' for rotating the basket and shaft, and as embodied a. pulley 18 is fixed on the shaft 7, a driving belt 1 f running over the pulley and. over a pair of guiding pulleys 15, journaled on the frame piece 11. The belt runs over a driving pulley 16, on a shaft 17,

which is driven in any suitable manner from any suitable source of power.

Numerous parts and ad uncts of a practical, operatlng extractor are omitted from.

the drawing for the sake of clearness, the 1 same not constituting any part of the pres ent invention.

The embodied form of guard for the extractor to which the present invention is herein exemplarily applied, comprises a sheet metal structure of approximately semi-conical form, adapted to close the openof the centrifugal casing, or the front half thereof, the guard being movable or swingable backwardly to an open position. The guard is preferably pivotally mounted,.in which case the opening andclosingmovement is effected by the guard swinging on its pivotal mounting,

and in the open position as shown in Fig. 1, it rests with its center of gravity slightly to the left of the perpendicular plane through its pivotal mounting, but so that p the slight movement to the right in that figure will cause the centerof gravity to pass to the right of that plane, whereupon the guard will fall of its own weight intoclosed position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

.ready described. Apertures 2? are provided in the guard, if desired, to permit circulation of air and view of basket in operation.

By this invention, means are provided whereby the guard is automatically closed immediately upon the shaft 7 or basket 4 beginning to rotate, and cooperating therewith are means automatically locking the guard in closed position, and preventing its being opened while the basket is rotating. Further, in the embodied form, the guard may be released from its closed and locked position only after the basket and shaft have stopped rotating, and this unlocking is pref erably effected manually by the attendant after the basket and shaft have come to rest.

In the embodied form, fixed to rotate with the shaft 7, and as shown, mounted on the hub 28 of the belt pulley 13, is an annular collar 29, held in place on the shaft by a set screw 30. Collar 29 is provided upon its vertical exterior surface with an anular groove 31, which serves as a support upon which another part of the mechanism, as later explained, is rotatably mounted or carried.

Mounted upon the collar 29 so as to alternatively rotate therewith or to rotate relatively thereto, at different points or stages inthe operation of the device, isa ring 35, having on its. internal vertical face a horizontally projecting annular flange 36, which flange fits within the annular groove 31 of the collar 29, to provide a support for the ring 35 of the character just described.

The upper part 37 of the ring 35 is of greater diameter than the collar 29, thereby providing an open annular space or clearance between the two. Fixed to 'the collar 29, and projecting outwardly into the space just described is a pin 33. Fixed to the upper part 37 of ring 35 and projecting inwardly into said space is a pin 39. The. pins 38 and 39'are so positioned that they will engage with each other, and thereby cause the ring 35, at the proper time and in the proper manner, to rotate with the col] 29. The collar or ring" 35 for structural reasons, is preferably split in half, and when assembled is screws 40.

On the bottom horizontal face of the ring held together by or closed position of Fig. 2.

35 it is provided with a downwardly projecting annular flange 4]., which has its outer surface or periphery substantially concentric with the shaft 7 except at one point, where it projects outwardly in the form of a cam orj lug l2, which cam at the proper time moves or tilts the guard to etiiect the closing action as later described. The annular flange 41 is also provided with an opening or passage as vtherethrough, which is used in the unlocking'of the guard when the shaft and basket are at rest. The outer surface of the ring 35 may be knurled about the surface l i, or may be otherwise conveniently formed, or be provided with means to facilitate the turning of the ring.

As a cooperating part of the locking mechanism, there is mounted upon the guard 26 a pin 47, carried on a spring arm.

48, projecting rearwardly from the guard and curving around behind the shaft 7, to bring the pin 47 to the back of the shaft when the guard is in closed position, its operation or function being later described.

As a cooperating part of the guardclosing mechanism, there is fixed on the front or forward part of the guard a stop 5.4,

which is located in proper relative position to effect its part in'the closing of the guard, as later described. The guard is centrally slotted, as shown at 49, to accommodate the shaft 7 as the guard swings back to open position.

The manner of operation of the hereinbefore described mechanism is substantially as follows:

The guard may be regarded as in the open position, shown in Fig. 1, in which position the stop 54 engages with the annular exterior periphery of the flange 41 on the ring 35, and the pins 38 and 39 may be regarded as in the relation, though not necessarily in the exact position of Fig. 3. If the power is thrown 011, and shaft 7 begins to rotate, pin 38 and collar 29 will rotate with shaft 7. in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. At this time ring 35'is at rest, due to the weight of the guard, which ispressing against it.

lVhen pin 38 strikespin 39, as it will during the first rotation. of shaft .7, ring begins to rotate. In. some fractional part of its first rotation the cam 42 will engage with the stop 5& on the guard, as

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The guard is thereby moved to the right from the position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position of Fig. 2, and this is suificient tocarry the center of gravity of the guard 26 from the left hand side to the right hand side of the perpendicular plane passing through the pivotal supports of the guard, and the guard then falls of its own weight to the full line As the guard in its downward movement approaches the closed position, the pin 47 strikes the bottom face of the flange 41, thereby springing its Support 48 downwardly, and as the guard continues its downward movement, pin 47 moves toward shaft 7, and then, through the resiliency of the support 48, springs upwardly into the space 50 within the flange 41. This locks or holds the guard within flange 41, and prevents its being lifted so long as the shaft 7 and basket 4 continue to rotate.

After the basket and shaft have come to rest, the ring 35 may be rotated by hand in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, the pin 39 being thereby moved away from the pin 38, and the opening is brought into posit-ion just back of the pin 47. .f the guard is then lifted slightly and at the same time the ring 35 is moved somewhat, the pin 47 will pass out through the opening 43 in the locking flange 41. and the guard then may be swung upwardly to the position of Fig. 1, where it Wlll remam at rest. The opening 43 is formed diagonally through the ring 41 to prevent any accidental outward movement of the pin 47, while the shaft 7 is rotating, and to insure that the unlocking can be effected only when the shaft is at rest.

As embodied, the space 50 is shaped to guard against the pin 47 springing out through the slot or opening 43. when the extractor is rotating very slowly. For this purpose, the outer wall of the annular space 50, which is formed by the inner wall of flange 41, is curved outwardly as shown at 60, whereby the edge or point 61 at the ad vance or forward edge of the slot or recess 43 substantially overhangs the edge or point 62 at the rear edge of slot 43, in the radial direction of the shaft and cooperating parts. Thus, while the extractor is in operation, when the pin 47 springs backwardly after passing point 61, it will strike the inner wall of flange 41 at the corner 62 or beyond it and thus be prevented from entering the passage 43 and thereby passing to unlocked position on the outside of flange 41. The passage 43 in practice may conveniently be disposed at an angle of forty-five degrees to the adjacent radii of the flange 41. The described shape and disposition of the parts also aids the pin 47 to spring out through passage 43 when the ring 35 is rotated by hand to unlock the guard as already described.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrilicing its chief advantages. 1

hat I claim is 1. In combination in a centrifugal machine, the basket and its shaft, a basket guard and a closing devicetherefor comprising a guardahoving member mounted on the shaft, and adapted to engage and close said guard.

2. In combination in a centrifugal machine the basket and its shaft, a basket guard and an automatically operating looking device comprising a member mounted on the shaft and a member mounted on the guard interlocking therewith. V

3. In combination in a centrifugal machine the basket and its shaft, a basket guard. and an automatically operating locking device comprising a member mounted on the shaft and a member mounted on the guard interlocking therewith as the guard reaches closed position.

4. In combination in a centrifugal ma-.

chine the basket and its shaft, a basket guard and a closing device therefor comprising a guard-moving member eccentrically mounted on the shaft.

5. In combination in a centrifugal machine the basket and its shaft, a basket guard and an automatically operating locking device comprising a member mounted on the shaft and a member mounted on the guard interlocking therewith, said locking members being relatively movable to unlock them only when the shaft is at rest.

6. In combination in a centrifugal machine the basket and its shaft, a basket guard and an automatically operating locking device comprising an annularly grooved member on the shaft and a spring pin carried on the guard adapted to spring into the groove as the guard closes.

7. In combination in a centrifugal machine the basket and its shaft, a basket guard and an automatically operating locking device comprising an annularly grooved member on the shaft and a spring pin carried on the guard adapted to spring into the groove as the guard closes, said annularly grooved member being transversely slotted and rotatable about theshaft to unlock the pin from the groove.

8. In combination in a centrifugal machine the basket and its shaft, a basket guard and an automatically operating locking de vice comprising an annularly grooved menrber on the shaft and a lock pin carried on the guard adapted to move into the groove as the guard closes, said annularly grooved member being transversely slotted at an angle to a radius of the shaft passing therethrough.

9. In combination in a centrifugal machine the basket and its shaft, a basket guard and an automatically operating locking da vice comprising an annularly grooved mem ber on the shaft and a lock pin carried on i the guard adapted to move into the groove as the guard closes, sald annularly grooved member. being transversely slotted at an angle to a radius of the shaft passing therethrough, said groove being enlarged on one side of the slot whereby one edge of the slot in the groove overhangs the other to prevent the pin moving into the slotduring the rotation of the machine.

10. In combination in a: centrifugal eX- tractor, a basket, a non-rotating guard therefor, means for causing the guard to close as the basket begins to rotate, and means for locking the guard in closed position while the basket is rotating comprising a member moving automaticaily into looking position with yielding spring action by closing movement of said guard.

11. In combination in a centrifugal ex; tractor, a casing, a basket, a guard therefor pivoted to the casing, means for causing the guard to close as the basket begins to rotate, means for locking the guard in closed position while the basket is rotating comprising a member passing automatically into locking position by yielding spring action, and manually operable means for releasing said locking member after the basket hasstopped 12. In combination in a centrifugal e t-ractor, a basket, a guard therefor, means for causing the guard to close as the basket begins to rotate an element rotating with.

' the basket, n'ieans'for locking the guard in closed position while the basket is rotating comprising a member passing automatically into locking position by yielding non-rotating spring action with said element.

13. In combination in a centrifugal extractor, a suspended basket, a. shaft passing upwardly through the basket, a guard for the basket, means for causing the guard to close as the basket begins to rotate, an annular element rotating with the basket, and means for locking the guard in closed position while the basket is rotating comprising a member passing automatically into locking position by yielding spring action with the annular element.

14 In combination in a centrifugal extractor, a basket, a non-rotating guard. therefor, means for causing the guard to close as the basket begins to rotate, an element rotating with the 'basket, means for locking the guard in closed position while the basket is rotating comprising a member passing automatically into locking position by yielding spring action with said element, and manually operable means for releasing said locking member after the basket has stopped.

15. In combination in a centrifugal extractor, a basket, a guard therefoig means for causing the guard to close as the basket begins to rotate, an element rotating with the basket, means for locking theguard in closed position while the basket is rotating comprising a member passing automatically into locking position by yielding spring action with said element, said rotating member being manually movable after the basket has stopped to release the locking member.

16. In combination in a centrifugal extractor, a basket, a guard therefor, means for causing the guard to close as the basket for causing the guard to close as the basket begins to rotate, a slotted annular member rotating with the basket, and means for locking the guard in closed position while the basket is rotating comprising a member passing automatically into locking position by'yielding spring action with the slotted annular member and disengaging through said slot.

18. In combinationin a centrifugal e3:-

tractor, a casing,a basket, a guard there 1 for pivoted to the casing, means for caus v ing the guard to close as the basket begins to rotate, an element rotating about the axis of rotation of the basket as the basket rotates, and means for locking the guard in closed position while the basket is rotatng comprising a member passing automatically into locking position with said ele ment. 19. In combination in a centrifugal extractor, a suspended basket, a shaft passing upwardly through the basket,'a guard for the basket, means for causing the guard to close as the basket begins to rotate, an element rotating about the aXis'of rotation of the basketas the basket rotates, and means for locking the guard in closed position while the basket is rotating comprising a member passing automatically into locking position With said element.

20. In combination in a centrifugal eX-' operable means for releasing said locking member after the basket has stopped, said annular member being rotatable after the baskethas stopped to release the locking member. s I

21. In combination in a centrifugal extractor, a basket, a guard therefor, means for causing the guard to close as the basket begins to rotate, a slotted annular element rotating with the basket, and means for locking the guard in closed position while the basket is rotating comprising a member passing automatically into locking position with the slotted annular element through the slot thereof.

22. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a basket, a shaft for the basket, a guard for the basket, locking means carried by the guard, cooperating locking means, carried on the shaft and rotatable with it, said guard being movable into locking position by said shaft carried locking means, the two locking means being movable to locking positionwhile the shaft is rotating and being formed to remain locked as long as the rotation of the basket continues. V y 7 23. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a basket, a shaft for the basket, a guard for the basket, locking means carried by the guard, a collar rotatable with the shaft, the lock and collar being movable into lockedengagement when the shaft is rotating, and means carried by the collar for permitting disengagement of the lock and collar only when the shaft has stopped rotating.

24. In a centrifugal machine, the com bination of a basket, a shaft for the basket,

a guard for the basket, a lock member carrieclby the guard, cooperating lock means carried by the shaft having a substantially circular retaining shoulder, the guard lock member being adapted to move into locking engagement with the shoulder, said shoulder being provided with a release passageway for the guard lock member for allowing its release only when the shaft has ceased rotating.

25. I11 a centrifugal machine, the combination of a basket, a shaft for the basket, a guard for the basket, locking means carried'by the guard, and a cooperating locking collar carried by the basket shaft and i normally rotatable therewith, said collar being also movable relatively to the basket shaft, said collar being adapted to hold the locking means on the guard in locked position as long as the rotation of the basket continues.

' 26. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a basket, a shaft for the basket,

a guard for the basket, and a locking device carried by the basket shaft and rotatable with it, said device being engageable with the guard to hold it in closed position as long as the shaft continues to rotate and i to release it only when the rotation of the shaft has ceased.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

7 HUMPHREY EVANS. 

